Aeschylean Drama and the History of Rhetoric

<p>This dissertation demonstrates how the playwright Aeschylus contributes to the development of ancient Greek rhetoric through his use and display of πειθώ (often translated “persuasion”) throughout the <em>Oresteia</em>, first performed in 458 BCE. In this drama, Aeschylus specifically displays and develops πειθώ as a theme, a goddess, a central principle of action, and an important concept for his audience to consider. By tracing connections between Aeschylus’ innovations with πειθώ and later fifth and early fourth century conceptions of Greek rhetoric, I argue that Aeschylus plays a more important role in the development of practical principles and concepts of the rhetorical art than has been previously acknowledged. Methodologically, in this dissertation I combine word studies and thematic analysis together with examinations of choral narratives and staging, iconographical research on the goddess Peitho, and a close study of Athena’s speeches to the Erinyes (<em>Eu.</em> 778-891) through the lens of Aristotle’s <em>Rhetoric</em>. Through these diverse modes of analysis, this dissertation validates Aeschylus as a conceptually innovative playwright and offers an approach for further examination of early Greek rhetoric through the portrayal of πειθώ in drama.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Classics

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Karas, Allannah K

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dee Clayman

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Joel Lidov
• Lawrence Kowerski
• Victor Bers (Yale University)

• Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity
• Classical Literature and Philology
• Rhetoric
• drama
• persuasion
• history
• Greek tragedy
• Oresteia

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2111

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-3134